Tour '26, Stage 11: Nature Break

The question you never really wanted to know the answer to, "How does the peloton deal with the 'call of nature' during a one-hundred-mile stage?"  Usually, the TV camera men (or women - although I do thing they are all men) swing away from any riders relieving themself on the side of the road.  If the race is really on, they will pee as they roll along.  Out of courteousness, they will get out of the peloton so as not to spray those behind them.  Despite the speed of today's stage, Alex Kirsch (Cofidis) pulled over to the side of the road.  As he took care of business, the following caravan of team cars rolled pass.  He will be able to use the draft the cars provide as he works his way back up to the tail of the peloton.  I can't help but sing "Pink Cadillac" every time I see EF Education's team car.  Yes, they were clever enough to get Cadillac to be the car sponsor for the team, after all, the team color is pink.  It was just too good of a fit for all involved.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $99 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

Purchase this painting here: "Nature Break TdF26-75" (Original art by Greig Leach)

 Learn more about Greig Leach at The Art of Cycling: About the Artist: Greig Leach

And learn about Leach's published books at The Art of Cycling: Cycling Books by Greig Leach

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Gent-Wevelgem '25: No Progress

Despite the combine efforts of Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck), both Jonas Abrahamson and Rasmus Tiller (Uno X-Mobility) and Yves Lambert (Soudal-Quick Step) the peloton wasn't making any real progress towards catching Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Lidl-Trek did have two of Pedersen's teammates, Alex Kirsch and Toms Skujins, doing their best to disrupt the chase of their defending champion.  With eight and a half kilometers to go, they were still a minute and twenty seconds behind the flying Dane.  They did manage to catch the other three that were also unsuccessful in their chase of the leader as well.  Now it looks like Pedersen has a very strong chance of winning his third Gent-Wevelgem.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"No Progress GW25-5" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Nice, Stage 2: Kicking into Overdrive

It look like the stage was going to belong to Pascal Ackerman (Bora-Hansgrohe) then a very patient Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT Pro Cycling) found his over drive and sprinted away from the bunch.  Behind the Italian, it was Nils Politt (Israel Start Up Nation) and Alex Kirsch (Trek-Segafredo) seemingly watching the stage slip through their fingered gloves.  You might notice that there isn't a big crowd of cheering cycling fans along the barriers.  With the threat of the coronavirus growing in Europe, large gatherings are now banned in France so the finish line was barred to spectators.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available though my website at www.greigleach.com, or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Since it is an original it is first come first served.  The painting was created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 plus shipping. And yes, international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488571-9-272742/Painting/kicking-into-overdrive-pn20-9.html